Hawkeyes Drop 5-Set Match in Game 3 of Challenge

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Aug. 25, 2012

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Southeast Missouri on Saturday afternoon in its third game of the Hawkeye Challenge presented by Comfort Suites (29-27, 23-25, 19-25, 25-13, 13-15). The match was held on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Four Hawkeyes registered double-digit kills. Sophomore Alex Lovell notched a match-high 17 and junior Chante’ Thompson added a career-best 13. Junior Rachael Bedell tallied 16 kills and sophomore Alessandra Dietz turned in 12. Junior Nikki Dailey led Iowa with a match-high 50 assists. Classmate Bethany Yeager added 26 digs.

The Black and Gold claimed the opening set for the third time in as many matches, 29-27. With the score even at 2-2, Iowa grabbed an early lead with an 8-3 run to make the score 10-5. The home team maintained the lead until SEMO used an 8-3 run to grab an 18-17 lead. Both teams exchanged points until the Redhawks pushed set-point, 24-22. Iowa then rallied to score seven of the final 10 points to earn the win. Lovell and Bedell led the Hawkeyes with four kills. Dailey turned in eight assists and six digs and Yeager tallied 11 digs.

The visitors (2-1) answered in the second set, evening the match at 1-1 with a 25-23 victory. The Hawkeyes trailed 4-8 after a 6-0 SEMO run, but responded with a 5-0 run to regain a 9-8 lead. The Redhawks grabbed the lead at 10-9 and never relinquished it, despite Iowa tying the set nine times. The frame featured 14 total ties. Lovell led Iowa with five kills and Dailey registered a set-high 13 assists. Yeager added a set-high seven digs.

Southeast Missouri grabbed a 2-1 match lead with a 25-19 third-set victory. The hosts scored the first point of the frame before the Redhawks recorded the next four. SEMO led the rest of the way to earn its second straight set victory. Lovell (five kills) and Dailey (10 assists) recorded set-highs.

The Hawkeyes responded in the fourth set, cruising to a 25-13 victory to even the match at 2-2. Dietz registered a set-high five kills and Thompson added four. Dailey turned in a set-high 11 assists.

Southeast Missouri claimed a wild fifth set, 15-13. The final frame featured six tie scores and three lead changes. The two teams went back-and-forth throughout. Iowa led 11-10, before the Redhawks rallied to win five of the final seven points and claim the match.

Iowa (2-1) concludes action in the Hawkeye Challenge presented by Comfort Suites tonight at 7 p.m. against Valparaiso. All matches in the Hawkeye Challenge will be played on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Admission is $5 for adults and free for youth 18 and younger, and UI students with a valid ID.